A Thanksgiving Break From the Streets : Holiday: Runaways gather for free food but have mixed feelings about circumstances that drove them to homelessness.

From “squat” houses, street corners and shelters, homeless Hollywood youths trooped into the front yard of Covenant House on Wednesday for a Thanksgiving Eve meal.

Celebrities such as actors Lara Flynn Boyle and Matthew Perry and rhythm & blues singer Countess Vaughn served turkey, stuffing, vegetables and brownies to nearly 300 youths and a handful of adults.

“It’s good for people that don’t have homes to go to,” said Jyssica Hawkins, 17, who said she has been a squatter in abandoned buildings in Hollywood and stayed at friends’ homes off and on since age 13 because her mother’s disapproval of her boyfriends drove her out.

Unable to get a ride home to Bloomington in San Bernardino County for a holiday meal with her family, she said of the Covenant House meal, “I hate it. My mom’s home cooking is better.”

“It’s all right,” said a 20-year-old self-described punk who identified himself only as Carl. With a crisp shine on his heavy Doc Marten boots and his curly hair furrowed into a twin Mohawk, he said he has lived on the streets, sleeping mostly in squats, since he was 15. He said his father threw him out over his refusal to change his style of dress.

“It fills us up,” Carl said of the food. “It’s all right, except maybe next time they can get more vegetarian food.”

“It’s food,” said Chimanh, 19, another punker who, like Carl, would not give his last name.

“But Thanksgiving is, like, the second most bunk holiday, man,” Chimanh said. “Christmas is the first,” he said, cleaning his plate and cheerfully spoon-flipping leftover morsels at a fellow punk. “Giving thanks for what, man? Giving thanks to be in an oppressive, so-called free country?”

Nikki, 15, who was happy to have a day of free music and food and no school classes, took a different view.

“It’s good food,” she said. “They had a talent show and I got out of classes. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

A slight, articulate 16-year-old who said he left home less than a week ago to escape his stepfather’s beatings just watched.

“I can’t eat,” said the boy, arms folded tight around his middle. “It reminds me of home.”

What did he think of the celebrity visitors, such as Boyle, who chatted a bit with the youths while serving lunch, and rap artist D. J. Quick, who mingled and autographed photos of himself for young fans?

“It’s good for them, I guess,” he said, grimacing. “I don’t know what it does for us.”

Boyle said her presence at the shelter for homeless youths brought mixed reactions--from gratitude for the food to animosity directed at her profession.

“It’s like skating on thin ice for some of these kids, but for the most part, they’re so loving,” said Boyle, who volunteered at Covenant House while portraying a homeless girl in last summer’s movie “Wherever the Day Takes You.”

“You think about it,” Boyle said. “When they left home--after the drama’s over and (their parents) realize it’s a lot cheaper with their kids gone--most of them aren’t wanted back. And if they are wanted back, it’s to be abused . . . and who wants that?”

Fred Ali, executive director of Covenant House, said he was happy with the turnout but sorry that some youths--including teen-age boys who work Santa Monica Boulevard as transvestite prostitutes--did not attend.

“It’s a very hard time for kids,” Ali said. “I’m sorry if there are any kids out there that knew about it and didn’t come in.”